IBSS

Curator and Follett Chair of Ichthyology

Reef Fish Evolution and Ecology, Mesophotic Coral Reef Exploration

My research interests and experience are centered on the ecology, evolution, phylogeography (or the geographic distribution of genetic lineages), conservation, biogeography and systematics of coral reef fishes. I frequently try to combine these fields, invoking ecology to help explain evolutionary patterns and using molecular tools to test biogeographic and systematic hypotheses. The overall objective of this interdisciplinary research is to test existing hypotheses (and propose new ones) about what generates and maintains the extremely high biodiversity in tropical coral reefs.

Joggins Fossil Cliffs, Nova Scotia, Canada

Peter Roopnarine

Curator, Invertebrate Zoology & Geology

Mass Extinctions, Paleocommunity Evolution, Evolutionary Ecology

I am the Curator of Geology, and I've been at the Academy since 1999. I hold degrees in Biology (B.Sc.), Oceanography (M.S.) and Geology (Ph.D.). My research is transdisciplinary, with a focus on understanding the evolution of ecological systems, emphasizing paleontology, deep time, and perspectives on complexity dynamics. Most of my research these days centers around global change biology, and how we can further develop our understanding of Earth's past ecosystems to better forecast our future.

Joe Russack

Director of Scientific Computing

At the Academy, I oversee all computing activities within the research group. While this role primarily supports collections data and genomics research, it also encompasses many other aspects of the scientific work we do.

Lauren Scheinberg, Collection Manager, Herpetology

Lauren A. Scheinberg

Senior Collection Manager, Herpetology

Jim Shevock

Research Associate, Fellow, Botany

Bryophytes

My ongoing research interests are on moss floristics and basic bryophyte inventory activities. My field work shifted around 1997 from flowering plants to bryophytes with an emphasis in bryogeography through specimen acquisition to expand the diversity of the collections within the CAS herbarium. Thirteen plant species have been named in my honor including seven flowering plants and six mosses including the moss genus Shevockia endemic to Asia.

Brian Simison

Emeritus Curator of the Center for Comparative Genomics

Evolutionary processes, Genomics, Phylogenetics, Hybridization

The Simison lab investigates the processes that generate, maintain, and reduce biodiversity. In particular, we are interested in the process of speciation. We use comparative genomics techniques such as RADseq, Ultra Conserved Elements, transcriptomics, and whole genomes to study the role of admixture and introgression in speciation. We are currently focusing on the globally invasive red eared slider turtle system (Trachemys scripta elegans) native to North America.